Master of Science Degree in Counseling, School Counseling
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling is designed to prepare effective educational counselors to work in elementary, junior high/middle, and high school settings.
The 52-semester unit program can be completed in two and a half years while attending full-time. The courses include educational counseling classes, specialty classes, and an 800-hour fieldwork experience. The courses reflect a practitioner emphasis, and some are taught by faculty working within various local school districts. All courses for the degree are conveniently offered weekdays after 5:00 pm on the Bakersfield campus.
Upon completion of all School Counseling coursework, graduates of the School Counseling Program are recommended to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) for issuances of the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling. Extensive field-based experience is woven throughout the curriculum to provide hands-on training in many diverse school settings.
Year One Required Courses
Fall
EDCS 5120: Introduction to Individual Counseling (3 units)EDCS 5140: Introduction to Counseling in Schools (3 units)
EDCS 5160: Theories in Educational Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 5210: Practicum I (2 units)
Spring
EDCS 5050: Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling (3 units)EDCS 5130: Multicultural Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 5150: Crisis Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 5220: Practicum II (2 units)
Year Two Required Courses
Fall
EDCS 6110: Research and Evaluation in Counseling (3 units)EDCS 6130: Comprehensive School Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 6360: Fieldwork I (4 units)
Spring
EDCS 6150: Academic and Career Counseling (3 units)EDCS 6160: Introduction to Group Counseling (3)
EDCS 6370: Fieldwork II (4 units)
Year Three Required Courses
Fall
EDCS 6290: Collaboration & Leadership in Counseling (3 units)EDCS 6330: Comprehensive Exam (3 units)
EDCS 6380: Fieldwork III (4 units)
Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Authorization
糖心Vlog视频 offers an optional Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Authorization for candidates who graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling degree from 糖心Vlog视频 beginning in fall 2025.
The CWA is an added specialization issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to an existing Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in School Counseling, School Psychology, or School Social Work. The CWA authorizes specialized supportive counseling work in the areas of student and family welfare, student attendance improvement, and truancy prevention and intervention.
If a candidate opts-in in to earn the CWA authorization, the candidate must complete all CWA requirements below to be recommended for the credential by the 糖心Vlog视频 credential analyst. The 糖心Vlog视频 Educational Counseling School Counseling concentration has the CWA required coursework embedded in the program coursework.
CWA Required Courses
EDCS 5150 Crisis Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 6290 Leadership and Collaboration in Counseling (3 units)
EDCS 6380 School Counseling Fieldwork III (4 units)
CWA Fieldwork Requirements
120 HoursDirect contact with pupils in pk-12 setting related to attendance, truancy, and/or child welfare.
30 hours
Experiences in interdisciplinary settings related to child welfare (e.g., law enforcement, juvenile justice, child health and welfare, mental health, social services, child protective services and community-based organizations).
150 CWA hours: 150 minimum
PPS School Counseling Preconditions, Program Standards, and Performance Expectations
View the PPS School Counseling Preconditions, Program Standards, and Performance Expectations
document.
Apply to the Program
Applications for the next admission cycle (Fall 2026) open October 1st and are due March 1, 2026. Please note that EDCS only admits students one time per year.
Please contact Amani Hernandez, Program Admissions Advisor, with any questions.(661) 654-3193
aalshaif@csub.edu